October Heat Wave in California; Tropical Cyclone Possible in the Gulf

Much higher than typical October temperatures will continue across coastal southern California up through the Bay Area and Central Valley through midweek resulting in result in Major to Extreme HeatRisk. A tropical depression is likely to form over the Gulf of America during the middle part of this week with further strengthening possible as it moves northeastward later this week. Read More >

The month started off wet, with over an inch of rain soaking the region on the first day. Those rains made 2018 the wettest year on record at Lexington.

On December 8-9 the second ice storm of the season rolled across the region, coating outdoor objects in 0.10-0.28" of glaze in southern Kentucky.

Another round of heavy rain came through on the 14th-15th as low pressure moved very slowly from the lower Mississippi Valley into the Tennessee Valley. One to three inches of rain fell. It was these rains that made 2018 the wettest year on record at Frankfort.

The month ended with a bang as a squall line brought heavy rain and gusty winds to the region. A New Year's Eve EF-1 tornado briefly touched down between Corydon and Brandenburg. The heavy rains made 2018 Louisville's wettest year on record.

	Average Temperature	Departure from Normal	Precipitation	Departure from Normal	Snow	Departure from Normal
Bowling Green	42.7°	+4.1°	5.13"	+0.33"	1.2"	0"
Frankfort	40.6°	+5.3°	5.40"	+1.39"
Lexington	41.0°	+5.0°	6.06"	+2.13"	0.1"	-2.4"
Louisville Bowman	43.0°	+5.8°	5.51"	+1.50"
Louisville International	43.0°	+5.1°	5.90"	+2.07"	T	-2.6"